Letters to the Editor: For May 29, 2014

As executive secretary of the Troy Housing Authority, I am writing to support the efforts of The Ark Community Charter School to stay open. The Charter School traces its roots back to 1978 when Mary Teresa Streck and Jay Murnane recognized the need to provide enhanced educational support to residents of low income communities managed by the Troy Housing Authority.

For many years The Ark operated at the John P. Taylor Apartments and in 2000 it won a National Best Practice Award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. In 2001, when the program grew into a full-fledged school, with the granting of a charter, The Ark was forced to relocate to more suitable academic space. Through the relocation, The Ark and The Ark Community Charter School retained a commitment to serve at-risk students, in particular those from families struggling with poverty issues. Each year many families from the Troy Housing Authority apply to The Ark Community Charter School and, fortunately, many are selected to attend.

At the Troy Housing Authority we have witnessed first hand how students, and in fact whole families, transform in the nurturing environment afforded by this unique school. The longer school day, low student-to-teacher ratio and the recognition that families are active partners in the educating of their children is just what is needed by many of the children and families we serve.

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The gateway out of poverty is a quality education. Over the past 13 years, the enrichments and support that The Ark Community Charter School has built into their school has helped many children advance academically, socially and professionally. It is the hope of the Troy Housing Authority that The Ark Community Charter School will be able to convince Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the trustees of the State University of New York to keep the school open.